Nepalese gay prisoners released; police accused of brutality
Ben Townley, Gay.com UK


Thirty-nine members of a gay rights group who were arrested in Nepal to the shock of international human rights groups have been released on bail, but have already spoken of the violence directed at them during police custody.

The mostly gay or transgendered (known as Metis) group were arrested on the 9th August while at a club in Kathmandu.

The arrests follow ongoing accusations of anti-gay attacks from the government and police force in Nepal, as well as a threat to close the Blue Diamond Society - a gay rights group that offers information on HIV/AIDS - for promoting homosexuality.

Since the release, the chief of the BDS has released a statement recounting some of the attacks that took place during the incarceration.



also read: Brief report of experience of Metis of their last 13 days : A personal account.

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Same-sex marriage to be challenged in court - (SA)


The definition of marriage in South African common law will be challenged in the Supreme Court of Appeals in Bloemfontein on Monday.

Roman Dutch law defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman. This makes it impossible for same-sex couples to be married to each other.

On Monday a lesbian couple who want to marry will challenge a decision in the Pretoria High Court, in which Judge Pierre Roux dismissed Marie Fourie and Cecilia Bonthuys' application to have their marriage legally recognised in October 2002, saying the matter was constitutional and that he was not prepared to exercise his own discretion.


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Ohio Gay Marriage Amendment Faces Court Challenge


(Columbus, Ohio) Plans to ask voters to approve amending the Ohio state constitution to ban same-sex marriage are being challenged in court.

A lawyer for a coalition of mainly gay civil rights groups said that after reviewing petitions from four rural counties he has found "numerous errors."

Donald McTigue examined petitions certified in Marion, Morrow, Fulton and Sandusky counties and found paperwork showing how much petitioners were paid was improperly filed in addition to improper changes in the number of signatures witnessed by each petitioner.

"We have only seen four counties, but if those four are indicative of the rest, this petition has problems in terms of making it to the ballot," McTigue told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "I don't see how all the errors can be addressed before the November election."


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Carey tour adds to US fears of gay schism
By Jonathan Petre, Religion Correspondent


Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, will provoke a fresh storm over homosexuality in the Church next month by blessing hundreds of American traditionalists who are boycotting their own pro-gay bishop.

This high-profile intervention by Lord Carey will highlight the growing polarisation in the worldwide Anglican community over the issue and will be criticised as "back-seat driving" by supporters of his successor at Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. 
 
It will also raise the temperature of the debate weeks before the publication of the final report by the Lambeth Commission, the body set up last year by Dr Williams to try to avert schism.


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Pledge tries to ban gay unions
By Jannell McGrew
Montgomery Advertiser


Three months after the Legislature failed to send a constitutional amendment banning gay marriages to voters, the Alabama Christian Coalition wants state lawmakers to try it again.

This time, the group wants legislators to sign a coalition-drafted pledge that is being circulated to members of the House and Senate. By signing the pledge, legislators agree to vote for the proposed amendment banning same-sex marriage.

The names of those who sign, as well as those who don't, will be placed on the Web for the public to see, said John Giles, Christian Coalition president. Sept. 3 is the deadline to sign the pledge.


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Lesbian divorce ruling may bench judge
By Associated Press


DES MOINES (AP) — The first judge in Iowa to be voted out of his job blamed his demise on a divorce. This election year, another judge could in trouble and the reason, once again, is divorce.
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In the 42 years since Iowans approved a system of retaining judges, only four have been knocked off the bench by voters.
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Northwest Iowa Judge Jeffrey Neary granted a divorce last year to a Sioux City lesbian couple who were joined in a Vermont civil union. Some Iowans believe Neary opened the way for civil unions or gay marriages not recognized by the state. Residents of his judicial district are raising money for a campaign to deny him another term.
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Retention votes have been routine since the system was changed so that judges no longer have to campaign like politicians to keep their jobs. Legal experts say in most cases where a judge is turned out, voters find them guilty of being unorthodox.